Uncertainty/unrepresentability

[Dunn Brian]

(Snipped, lots of great insight)

>  The impression thus arose that "Japanese films are bad."  That, I still
>think, is largely the fault of the majors.

So why don't people know about Japanese films now?  Is there not enough 
confidence inside the industry to warrant lots of advertising "because they 
won't succeed anyway"?  Is it too late, and most people already have low 
views of Japanese cinema?  Is this the same kind of attitude Japan has about 
releasing its films abroad commercially?


>What is interesting is that this is not necessarily the case with music
>and TV.  Compared to Europe, for instance, the percentage of Japanese
>product on TV and in the pop charts is much much higher.  In fact,
>American TV is only a fraction of what it used to be.  What I always
>wonder is why these two industries are different?  If Japanese hate
>Japanese things and love American stuff, why aren't their more American
>TV shows?  Why do Japanese songs still dominate?  Industrial issues are
>important here (e.g., the presence of karaoke, etc.), but I wonder what
>others think.

As far as music and TV goes, I think you are right.  However, with the 
music, all of the exchange students I meet here in Seattle have all but 
abandoned Japanese music and have embraced English (Am & UK) music.  
However, this may have something to do with their interest in English and 
studying abroad (just like I listen to Japanese rock music now almost 
exclusively).

But in Japan, I think Japanese music is very popular because it's a much 
more personal thing.  With movies, you go and watch for a few hours, and 
it's over, so it doesn't matter if it's Japanese or has subtitles.  But I 
think music is more more integral in people's lives, especially younger 
generations.  It's on the radio, on TV, on commercials, you can buy the 
CD's, etc.  And when listening people usually at least remember the chorus 
and can sing along.  Karaoke of course pushes this.  It's something young 
people grasp onto and identify with, much more than anything else I think.  
So I think people have a much closer personal and emotional connection with 
music.  I'm sure anyone can understand this, because I think it is true for 
every generation (many people don't let go and end up liking the same 
music/bands all their lives without moving on).  Hearing certain songs 
brings back memories, or reminds you of certain times or events that 
happened at that time, etc.

So, no matter how trendy English is in Japan, I think music is still one of 
the still somewhat pure-Japanese areas left.  I may be wrong, but I think 
hip-hop may be the biggest genres imported from America (although there are 
many Japanese hip-hop artists).

As far as TV shows go, I think that for the most part American TV shows 
don't fit in with Japanese culture very well.  People may watch American 
movies because they are popular, but at home with other channels with other 
shows, and every other thing in the house, I don't think many American TV 
shows make it in Japan.  I think Ally McBeal may be an exception, although I 
don't know how popular it actually is because I only saw a news story on its 
popularity in Japan, here in America.  But I do think that the Ally McBeal 
style, semi-drama, semi-comedy, one-hour, fits in with Japanese dorama, 
which are drama/comedy anyway.




Brian Dunn

b1dunn at hotmail.com
University of Washington
Dept. of Asian Languages and Literature

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